Means for combining smocking and needlework design



y 9, 1939- H s. SADTLER 2,157,573

MEANS FOR COMBINING SMOCKING AND NEEDLEWORK DESIGNS Filed Dec. 22, 1936 1 2 7 #T \h/j/ INVENTOR HELENA 5- SADTLER Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR COMBINING SMOCKING AND NEEDLEWORK DESIGN 1 Claim.

This invention relates to needle work, and more especially to means for combining smocking with a needle work design.

Many cross-stitch, tapestry, and embroideri designs, desirable for the decoration or trimming of dresses and childrens frocks, for instance, would be more useful if fullness be used to form the design. Prior to this invention such designs were worked on flat material without using any fullness.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of such means comprising an evenlypiaited foundation formed by two rows of smocking stitches (and which is known in the trade as box-plaits or box-pleats) upon which designs of cross stitch, tapestry, or embroidery may be worked.

Another object is to provide a transfer pattern for said designs to be worked on a plaited founda tion.

A further object is to provide a pattern for a plaited foundation formed by smocking stitches and a design to be worked on top of said plaits, both guides being adapted to be transferred to flat material at the same time, although the design to be worked on top of the plaits is not completed in proper position until the smocking rows are completely worked.

All these and other objects as suggested herebelow are attained by means now to be described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a piece of fabric containing a smocking design and other features of this invention.

And Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing at the left the initial appearance of the design applied to the fabric from the pattern before the smocking has been formed, and at the right its appearance afterwards on the complete article.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

By means of the transfer pattern there is marked on the fabric iii a series of horizontal and vertical rows of dots l9, and also a plurality of other indicia such as crosses I8, Fig. 2. These crosses and dots when marked on the fabric appear as shown to the left in Fig. 2, but when the smocking has been worked the effect is as shown, for instance, to the right in this View, where the crosses i! represent the cross stitch, tapestry, or embroidery design worked over the indicia crosses l8, which, through the smocking operation of forming the box-plaits or pleats or fullness, have taken the position shown. Note, where crosses l8a bridge a plait line, part of them are concealed beneath the plait when in smocked position, although appearing full on the fiat material.

The smocking is formed by making in succession the stitches l0, ll, [2, l3, and so forth, to thereby form the fullness or box-plaits l4 separated between the parallel lines of stitches by the spaced fold lines shown clearly in the drawing, and above and below said box-plaits by the terminating fold lines l5.

It will be noted that the indicia crosses [8 are spaced apart on the flat fabric to allow for the smocking fold of the material when the fullness is worked in, so that the pattern later shows on the box-plaits with the true finished design, as shown to the right in Fig. 2.

Thus the invention provides a pattern for both smocking and a design in embroidery, cross stitch, or tapestry, for instance, the composite design being adapted to be transferred to flat material at one time, and in such a way that when the rows of smocking stitches are workedby successively with the threaded needle going aside of and through two dots in a horizontal alignment, then pulling the thread through and successively going aside of and through the adjacent two dots of the pattern-marked fabric, as shownthere remains on the plaited surface of the smocked material the design [1 which is then cross stitched, for instance, to complete the whole work.

This invention has great practical importance. Ordinarily, after material is plaited it is not always satisfactory to transfer a design to same because of the uneven surface between the plaits; but with this invention there is provided one pattern for two stages of the work, one of which (the design) is formed by completion of the other, the smocking, which forms the box-plaits shown in the drawing.

This invention not only increases the usefulness of cross-stitch, tapestry, and embroidery, but likewise aids plain smocking, since many varied and beautiful effects can be obtained on the plaited material between the rows of smocking which could not be obtained by smocking alone.

Gther suitable indicia and designs may be used, and other variations of the invention made, without departing from this invention, which is considered limited only by the appended claim.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which Letters Patent of the United States is desired, is:

A sheet of material having thereon means to form box-pleats, said sheet of material also including cross stitch indicating means between said parallel pairs of rows, said cross stitch indicating means being positioned on the flat areas of the box-pleats when formed.

HELENA S. SADTLER. 

